HC asks striking drivers' unions to opt for peaceful negotiations

The high court also took a serious view of incidents of violence against vehicles and drivers of Ola and Uber, and directed the Delhi Police to ensure their safety.PTI | February 17, 2017, 14:57 IST

The High Court, on Friday, told the striking drivers' unions that they have to "get it out of their head" that they can "extract" something from these companies by agitations as they do with the government.

"Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) or any other officer of equal rank nominated by Commissioner of Police is requested to forthwith ensure that drivers/owners having contract with plaintiffs (Ola and Uber) and wanting to ply are not stopped or blocked from plying and that their vehicles are not damaged," said Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw.

The direction came after Ola and Uber contended that despite the court's orders earlier this week restraining the two drivers' unions from blocking or interfering with their services, there have been incidents of violence including burning of a cab.

The two unions denied responsibility for such incidents of violence. While SDAD said it has been agitating peacefully with permission, Rajdhani contended that it was only operating tourist cabs and it was SDAD which was involved in the incidents of violence. The court, however, noted in its order that "if not by the defendants (SDAD and Rajdhani), then the incidents are happening at behest of the defendants as no one else would be interested in indulging therein."

It said if such incidents continue the defendants only would stand to lose as people would adopt other means of transport and will no longer have faith in them. The court said that if the unions were unhappy with the rates fixed by Ola and Uber, then they have other options, like running as black and yellow taxis, open to them.

It said the unions have to "get it out of their head" that they can "extract" something from these companies by agitations as they do with the government, because these business modules will then go away from here and move to "better cities" where they can operate.

The court asked the unions to spread the word that such incidents of violence should not happen so that a peaceful atmosphere is created for a meeting with Ola and Uber. "You cannot demand anything from plaintiffs except by peaceful commercial negotiations," the court said and listed the matter for further hearing on February 28.

During the hearing, Ola and Uber said they have made several efforts for dialogue, but they cannot have meetings while these incidents of violence and "hooliganism" are occurring. The companies also said that these incidents started after the high court and the government said they are part of the system and set up a panel to formulate a scheme to regulate them.

The high court also took a serious view of incidents of violence against vehicles and drivers of Ola and Uber, and directed the Delhi Police to ensure their safety.